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If your event has been successful, you are likely looking to grow it. The increase of attendance and revenue, likely also means growing sponsorships and your volunteer base… and potentially moving to a larger venue all together. This is the case for SiouxperCon.

As you may remember from Part 1, the first year the event entertained 1,500 guests with growth to 3,200 guests the following year. “This year we are anticipating 5,500 - 6,000 attendees to break even,” expressed Gerlach. ​

SiouxperCon 2018: Return of the Con, presented by Black Hills Federal Credit Union will be taking place at the Sioux Falls Convention Center, September 28-30. “This is an exciting and scary move for us, from the Ramkota to the Convention Center; but our attendees made the move necessary,” Gerlach stated.

With a larger space comes more vendors, more guests, more costs, and of course (hopefully) more attendees. To attract more attendees SiouxperCon has developed a diverse and unique set of featured guests in hopes of reaching multiple genres. The convention has also expanded to include three days and nights, giving attendees more time to engage with vendors, featured guests, and their peers.

In one weekend of geekery, sponsors run from credit unions to breweries and you can see everything from Shea Fontana, writer of DC Super Hero Girls, to actress Tamara Glynn and people dressed as your favorite Hobbits to six year old gamers. Let’s try this again in non-geek terms. You will find vendors, panels creating your own Cosplay, learn to play a new board game, enjoy diverse entertainment, and so much more.

How have you engaged multiple age groups at your events? What tips can you share for growing events? We would love to hear from you! Comment below or email Charmaine at editor@MidwestMeetings.com.

For more information on SiouxperCon, go to www.SiouxperCon.com.This year’s SiouxperCon will begin on a Friday at noon with vendors and artists alley opening. Friday night will see Midwest All Pro Wrestling presenting “SiouxperMania” followed by the hip hop group DAD playing a concert, thanks to community partner The Collective Efforts Union.

Saturday will begin with an Opening Ceremony at 10:00am, followed by exciting panels, vendors, and artists alley going all day. Saturday’s big highlight is the Cosplay Competition, the area’s largest of its kind. The evening will wind down with SiouxperCon After Dark presented by Take 16 Brewing, where there will be comedy, adult themed panels, and the SiouxperCon Homecoming Dance.

Family Day is Sunday, presented by Marlins Family Restaurant. There will be a Video Game Tournament, kids cosplay competition, and a magic show by Travis Nye.